Bukit Panjang LRT Restores Service After Hour-Long Power Outage

Passengers Escorted Off Stranded Trains

SINGAPORE – Commuters experienced significant disruptions on the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) line today as a widespread power fault brought the entire 13-station network to a standstill for nearly two hours.

Service Halts Amidst Afternoon Rush

The disruption began around 2:45 PM when a power failure caused four trains to stop between stations. Transport operator SMRT confirmed that its staff safely guided passengers from the affected trains to the nearest stations. Announcements were made across the network to keep travelers informed.

“Our engineers are on-site to investigate and resolve the issue. We are sorry for affecting your afternoon commute,” said Lam Sheau Kai, president of SMRT Trains.

Earlier updates from SMRT indicated trains were proceeding at reduced speeds towards Choa Chu Kang LRT station on Service A as the fault was investigated. Shortly after, at approximately 2:45 PM, SMRT announced that train services were suspended across all 13 stations due to the power fault. Free regular and bridging bus services were made available outside affected stations.

Passenger Experiences Amidst the Halt

One commuter, Fay Goh, described her train stopping between Fajar and Bangkit stations for eight to ten minutes. “It was so hot inside and the other commuters looked blur as to what to do,” she recounted. “Fortunately, one of the young men in the train helped to call the (intercom) and lent me a fan to cool down.” Engineers later assisted passengers off the stationary train, and they walked to Fajar station.

Another passenger, Libin Sim, a 46-year-old director of a trade association, was traveling towards Choa Chu Kang when his train halted just before South View station. “The train was stuck for about 10 minutes before two engineers helped them off the train,” he said. “They walked on the tracks to South View station.” He noted that the approximately 20 passengers, including elderly and children, remained composed during the ordeal.

This incident marks the second LRT disruption in Singapore this month, following a similar power fault on July 3 that caused a three-hour delay. Such disruptions highlight ongoing challenges in maintaining the reliability of urban rail infrastructure. For instance, in London, Transport for London reported that its Jubilee line experienced significant delays in early 2023 due to a series of technical issues, impacting thousands of commuters daily (BBC News, February 2023).

Service Restoration and Return to Normalcy

By 4:22 PM, approximately two hours after the initial fault, SMRT confirmed that train services had resumed normal operations. About ten minutes later, the temporary free bus services were discontinued, signaling a full return to regular operations.